Polri: All Members Still in the Field to Anticipate Second Wave of Return Traffic

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Polri officially ended Operation Ketupat 2026 on Tuesday (25/3/2026) at 24.00. Operation Ketupat had begun on 13 March 2026. Nevertheless, all police personnel remain deployed in the field to anticipate the potential second wave of return traffic. “Tonight at 24.00, based on the directive from the National Police Chief, Operation Ketupat has been closed. However, the Indonesian National Police continues to carry out intensified routine activities, or in other words, KRYD (Intensified Routine Activities),” said Head of Traffic Corps of Polri Inspector General Agus Suryonugroho, in his statement on Thursday (26/3/2026). According to him, this step is taken given that around 42 percent of holiday vehicles have yet to return to Jakarta. Polri predicts the peak of the second phase of return traffic could occur on 29 March 2026. Agus explained that during Operation Ketupat, security efforts focused on five main clusters, which continue to be monitored to this day. First, arterial routes that are still experiencing congestion due to local Silaturahmi activities in areas such as Bandung, Bali, and Greater Malang. Second, toll roads as the backbone of vehicle movement. Polri recorded around 3.5 million vehicles leaving Jakarta during the outbound flow, with a projection of 3.4 million vehicles returning. Third, transportation nodes such as the Merak-Bakauheni and Ketapang-Gilimanuk ferry crossings, as well as airports, stations, and terminals. Fourth, places of worship during the Eid al-Fitr series up to Nyepi Day, which were reported to have proceeded safely and conducively. Fifth, tourist areas that are currently still crowded with people who have not yet returned to their home cities.